John E. Peterson

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I requested and were included in H. Res. 1488, Providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 2638) making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes. Consistent with the Republican Leadership's policy on earmarks, I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge this earmark: (1) is not directed to an entity or program that will be named after a sitting Member of Congress; (2) is not intended to be used by an entity to secure funds for other entities unless the use of funding is consistent with the specified purpose of the earmark; and (3) meets or exceeds all statutory requirements for matching funds where applicable.

Member: Congressman John E. Peterson.

Bill Number: H. Res. 1488 (H.R. 2638).

Provision: RDTE, N, Line# 183, PE# 0205633N.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Impact Technologies.

Address of Requesting Entity: 2571 Park Center Blvd., State College,

I have mixed emotions today. It may be the last chance I have to address this body. In 1 minute, I can't say much. I want to tell how much I've appreciated both sides of the aisle, my friendships.

Mr. Speaker, I rise with disappointment today. People in my district and the working people of this country are begging us to resolve this energy issue. They're struggling to drive their cars, and they don't have any idea how they're going to heat their homes and run their businesses with today's energy prices. They expect us to do something.

Speaker Pelosi's been telling the country that drilling's not the answer; it would take 10 years. Well, the Pelosi team drafted a bill. It will take 10 years, maybe 15, maybe 20, folks. This bill will not produce energy. It locks up 97 percent of the west coast forever. It locks up the most productive part of the gulf that we can produce quickly forever.

Folks, we need a bipartisan bill. Twenty-three Republicans and Democrats sat down and drafted a bill, 11 Democrats and 12 Republicans. We drafted the Peterson-Abercrombie bill that opens up all kinds of energy for America, funds all the renewables, and gives hope to the American people.

That's the kind of bill they don't want. They don't want a Republican bill. They don't want a Democrat bill. They want a bill that Members of this Congress sat down with no oil companies, no lobbyists. We sat down and drafted a simple bill--not 290 pages--one we could understand. We need to vote on a bipartisan energy bill that will give hope to the Americans that there is an economic future.